This paper talks about the influence of the Cultural Revolution in a global context. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of a remarkable year: 1968, during which the Mai 68 events of France and the...Show moreThis paper talks about the influence of the Cultural Revolution in a global context. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of a remarkable year: 1968, during which the Mai 68 events of France and the 68er-Bewegung of West Germany happened. In the 1960s, mobilised struggles evolved into new social movements, whose formation was largely influenced by the Maoist Cultural Revolution in China. This article analyses the role of Chinese Cultural Revolution in shaping the new social movements in 1960s Western Europe (France and West Germany) and the communications of the Cultural Revolution from China to the Western European recipients. The paper finds that the Cultural Revolution inspired the 1960s Western European social movement with new elements including a grass-roots approach, anti-authoritarian label and the students’ leadership. The Cultural Revolution reshaped the pattern of French social movement but brought inspiration to West German far-left terrorism.Show less
